Beloved

You are my private garden, my treasure, my bride, a secluded spring, a hidden fountain.

I've been thinking about how I worship the Lord. And how He sees me. I am finding the Song of Songs continually a beautiful place to find the picture of how the Lord sees his Bride, the Church, and also me. I read recently an article by someone stating that the Song of Song should surely be taken literally, as the love between a husband and wife. Because, surely the Lord would never use such language to describe His Church, His People.

But I thought back to many passages of Scripture speaking of the unfaithfulness and adultery of His People, His Israel. I thought of the pain he felt when His ones were unfaithful and wandered into relationship with others. And I thought of the picture painted in Revelation of the wedding at the End of Days, and the wedding banquet we will be invited into.

And it made perfect sense. If, in His anger, he describes his people as "adulterers" then in His love he would surely call his people "beloved."

Listen to the Lord's heart for you today:

You have stolen my heart, my sister, my bride; you have stolen my heart with one glance of your eyes, with one jewel of your necklace. How delightful is your love, my sister, my bride! How much more pleasing is your love than wine, and the fragrance of your perfume than any spice!